JHS BAND PERFORMS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

With Count Dracula (aka Mr. Wynn) narrating, the JHS Golden “Evil” Eagle Band performed for the home crowds at the Blanco football game with Leprechaun Addie Wilson directing.  The show was very entertaining and the “extras” were comical.  The Band was dressed in a variety of different characters, which made you really take a second and sometimes third glance to see who was really behind the costume!  They really went all out this year and it was terrific.

The show began with the theme from “The Munsters”.  The next song was “Ghostbusters” and included special guests from JISD Faculty; Ghosts were Dr. Schulze, Mrs. Hoggett and Mr. Carrell. The Ghostbusters were Mrs. Boone and Mrs. Raney.  Those ghosts could really move when the Ghostbusters came after them with their silly string powered weapons!  The last song was the theme from “The Adams Family”.  The Band ran into problems with this song though.  It seems the ghosts took all the bands music so they had to sing the song!   

It was a great show for all to see and it seemed the kids really had a great time performing a “non-stressful” show after all the contests.  Thank you Mr. Wynn… oops, I mean Count Dracula for the super narrating during the show.  It was a real treat for all, no tricks!

Next week’s home game against Mason will be the band programs opportunity to let the “Future Golden Eagle Band Members” share the lights with the band at half-time and in the stands.  Come out and see the younger students perform and cheer them on!

JHS GOLDEN EAGLE BAND COMPETES IN BRADY

Saturday brought a mixture of emotions for the JHS Golden Eagle Band.  Performing for three judges, parents and friends is always difficult, and this time was no exception.  The band marched out with confidence to begin their show.  The first note played is always the most important… it is the first impression the judges have for the band.  Unfortunately, the nerves took over and the band stumbled at the beginning, but recovered and completed the show! 

The kids did an awesome job in getting the show back on track and if nothing else, it shows their determination and pride.  Some bands might have quit, but not our JHS Golden Eagle Band!  They stuck with it and performed the rest of the show spectacularly!  Their performance earned them a Division II rating, which is nothing to be sad about.  They did a great job and I am very proud to have been able to share in their experience.  The audience rewarded the students with a standing ovation when the American Flag was unfurled! Way to go Band!

It was also great to see so many parents and community members travel to Brady to show their support as well!  I know the kids and Mr. Wynn appreciate it and took notice. 

Thank you to everyone who supports the band; from the Bus Drivers, Chaperones, Parents and Community.  Thank you very much!  

JHS BAND TO COMPETE IN BRADY ON SATURDAY

The Junction Golden Eagle Band will be taking their contest show to Brady on Saturday, October 20^th.  The band members will be meeting at the band hall around 12:15 and loading onto the bus at 1:00pm to make their way to Brady to perform their “Tour Across America” show.  Warm-up is at 2:55 with the performance scheduled for 3:25pm. 

Come to Brady and show your support for this great group of kids and their director.  They have really worked hard in getting it ready.  If you can’t make it to Brady, then stop by the band hall before they leave and wish them luck.  This is an important year for the band.  They will have the opportunity to advance to the Area Marching Contest in Belton if they do well in Brady.  After Area, there is a chance to go on to State!  This is only offered every other year, so this performance is critical for the band to do well in for this year.

The contest ratings will be announced at 5:25pm (after all performances).  KNEL 95.3 FM Radio out of Brady will be broadcasting the UIL Marching contest live on Saturday.  It can also be accessed on the internet live at www.knelradio.com, click on “listen now” for 95.3.  Be sure to check out the Junction Band website for results as well at www.junctionband.net.

Good luck Junction Golden Eagle Band!  I know you will do well in Brady and beyond.  Doing well on Saturday will make all your hard work, early morning practices, late evenings, sweat and sore feet worth it when you bring home that Division I!

JHS BAND COMPETES IN SAN ANGELO MARCHING FESTIVAL

Saturday found the JHS Golden Eagle Band traveling to compete in the San Angelo Marching Festival.  This is the last opportunity for the Band to received critique from judges before the UIL Region 7 Marching Contest in Brady on October 20^th.

Despite the heat and seemingly long wait time at warm-up, the band performed well for the judges, parents and the crowd.  There were four judges that were giving the bands UIL scale ratings.  The band received two Division I ratings and two Division II ratings.  This worked out to a total rating of Division II for the JHS Golden Eagle Band.  Well Done Band!  As before, Mr. Wynn was given the judges notes to take back and review with the band. 

Pulling out the giant American Flag is a daunting task, and for this, we have some great helpers.  In addition to Chaperones Lisa Sanders, Joe Ramos, Donna Wilham, Lisa Miller, Anna Dennis, Josepha Martinez and Mrs. Wynn, there are future JHS Band members traveling with the band to help.  They are: Katy Watson, Elizabeth Swicegood, Damian Wilkerson, Walker Weaver and Haley Parsons.  Thank you so much for your help!

Be sure to catch their show this Friday during the half-time performance at the game.  Everyone involved has worked so hard to make this show all that it can be and is definitely a treat to watch.  The Band will continue to tweak the show in preparation for the Brady contest.  Plan to come to Brady on October 20^th and show your support for the Band and all their hard work!  I know they would love to be able to look up into the crowd and see a great showing of Junction cheering them on!  Check the Band website for contest departure and performance time for Brady. www.junctionband.net 

JHS BAND PERFORMS WELL ON FIRST CONTEST

The JHS Band traveled to East Central High School in San Antonio for the East Central Hornet Invitational Marching Contest on Saturday, and came back with a 3^rd place trophy!  Way to go Band!  There were six bands competing with Junction in Class 2A, including Jourdanton, Nixon-Smiley, Comfort, Randolph and Odem.   Although this was not a UIL event, the judges return notes and critique just as if it were.  Mr. Wynn was given taped and written notes from the judges and will take these back to the Band to review and discuss.  This is very helpful in getting the show cleaned up for the UIL Region Marching Contest in Brady on October 20^th.

This was the first time for a lot of the younger band students to get to march for judges, so needless to say there was a lot of nervous chatter on the way to contest on Saturday.  It looked like it might be a rain-out at first, but it held out long enough to get their show in for the judges.  Just as before, the audience was very receptive to the show and many stood at the end when the American Flag came out.  It is really a moral boost to the Band when the audience shows their appreciation, and this crowd gave theirs!   

Pulling out the giant American Flag is a daunting task, and for this, we have some great helpers.  In addition to the Chaperones and Mrs. Wynn, there are future JHS Band members traveling with the band to help. 

The Band will get another chance to perform for judges on Saturday, October 6^th in San Angelo.  We encourage any in the community who would like to show your support for these fine kids and their director by coming to watch their competition.  Our Band leaves for San Angelo at 1:30pm, warm-up at 4:00pm and will march their show at 4:40pm. 

This is the year the Golden Eagle Band has the chance to go to State (an opportunity that is only offered every other year), so please show your support and encourage the kids and Mr. Wynn in all they are doing!  This is an awesome band program and the kids are a terrific group.  Everywhere they go, Mr. Wynn is told how well behaved and polite the band is and how much they appreciate a band that knows how to act in public.  What a great show of Pride for JISD and the community!  I am very proud of each of these kids and want to also THANK THEM!  Well done JHS Golden Eagle Band.

 Exact performance times will be on the website soon, so check the Contest Dates page often at www.junctionband.net.  You can also find Chaperone opportunities on the website if you are interested in helping out in that area. Thank you again to Mr. Wynn and all the band students for your hard work and the pride you show in JISD and America!  Well Done!

09/26/07 Junction Eagle Newspaper

Proud to be an American!

I can’t think of a better way to show Pride in America than the way the JHS Golden Eagle Band did it Friday night.  Wow!  Mr. Wynn and the band have really outdone themselves this year with their contest show.  The band is constantly in motion and playing some really great songs on their musical Tour Across America with Theme from New York, New York, Sweet Home Chicago, Kansas City, Deep In The Heart of Texas, California Here I Come, Fun – Fun – Fun and God Bless The U.S.A.  These songs also included solos from Levi Putnam, Garrett Douthit, Lynsey Gold and Coreigh Lawhon.  Great job to all! 

When they brought out the giant American Flag during the final number, there was not one person sitting!  Everyone was on their feet cheering.  Thanks also go out to Cecil Atkission Motors of Kerrville for the use of their flag for this performance.  Homecoming events bring in JHS Alumni and this was no exception for JHS Band Alumni.  Anthony Ratkus and Gary Del Vecchio came down and sat with the band to play in the stands and also helped out with the half-time show.  Thanks guys and it was great to see you again!

The band has a busy contest schedule this year, so there are many opportunities to show your support and come out to see their show.  In addition to the football game half-time shows, they will also be performing in San Antonio on September 29^th, San Angelo on October 6^th and the UIL Region Marching Contest in Brady on October 20^th.  Be sure to make it to one or all of these contest performances and show your support for the JHS Golden Eagle Band!  The band will be leaving this Saturday for the San Antonio Marching Festival at 6:45am.  I know it’s early, but if you can, come by the school and show your support and wish the band good luck!  I know they will really appreciate seeing folks come out to see them off.  We hope to see your there!

Exact performance times will be on the website soon, so check the Contest Dates page often at www.junctionband.net.  You can also find Chaperone opportunities on the website if you are interested in helping out in that area. Thank you again to Mr. Wynn and all the band students for your hard work and the pride you show in JISD and America!  Well Done!

TOUR ACROSS AMERICA WITH THE JHS BAND!

Are you ready to take a trip with the JHS Band?  Join them as they “Tour Across America” during the half-time shows at the football games!  Mr. Wynn and the band are hard at work putting this year’s contest show together.  They have not completed everything yet, but if last Friday’s performance is what we can look forward to, then I am excited to see the finished product!

Friday night the JHS Band was led onto the field by Drum Major Addie Wilson. The tour began with New York, New York, then a tuba solo of California, Here I Come, performed by Senior Levi Putnam and finishing up with the band performing Fun, Fun, Fun.

There are still more sets and songs to add to the performance and each week will see it progress to completion.  Be sure to watch them at half-time to see how the show is coming along.  Keep up with the band’s performance and concert schedule on their new website:  www.junctionband.net.  The website has pictures of the band as they perform or participate in other band related activities, so be sure to check it out often!

The Golden Eagle Band members were looking sharp in their flashy uniforms as they marched on the field.  The band took the crowd on a tour across America, from “New York, New York” to the surfing music of California.  The humidity and lack of breeze must have made the uniforms and head-gear uncomfortable, but the band, under the field direction of drum major Addie Wilson, did a fine job of representing Junction.
 

07/11/07 Junction Eagle Newspaper

GOLDEN EAGLE BAND STUDENTS ATTENDING ASU SUMMER BAND CAMP

Seven students are attending the ASU Summer Band Camp this week; Garrett Douthit (trombone), Levi Putnam (Tuba), Gary Del Vecchio (trombone), Tye Douthit (trumpet),  C.J. Ramsey (clarinet), Elizabeth Dennis (percussion) and Eric Aguerro (percussion). These students were each awarded a partial scholarship of $250.00 (of the total $450.00 needed) from the JHS Band Boosters and also received a little “pocket change” to spend as they liked from money donated by the Band Boosters and from the sale of the Band CD.  In order to qualify for the scholarship, they completed a short essay on what “Eagle Pride” means to them as a band student.

Band Director Dan Wynn transported these seven awesome musicians to San Angelo on Sunday. Once they arrived and checked in at ASU registration, they had to audition for the Honors, Symphonic and Concert bands.  This determines their “chairs” in the band.  The rest of the week they participate in a variety of class options such as marching, music theory, music appreciation and classes specifically directed to their instrument type.

Honors Band: Del Vecchio - 4^th Trombone, Putnam – 2^nd Tuba and also Bass Guitar for Jazz Band

Symphonic Band: G Douthit – 1^st Trombone, Aguerro – 3^rd Percussion, Dennis – 7^th Percussion

Concert Band: Ramsey – 1^st Clarinet, T Douthit – 4^th Trumpet

 At the end of the week, all the students attending camp perform their concerts in the Junell Center at ASU.  If you are interested in hearing some great music, the admission is free and will start at 12:30pm on Saturday, July 14^th.  Come on out and show your support to our JHS band students!